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What to Eat with Garlic Bread for Dinner - 21 Recipe Ideas

May 28, 2025 | Updated May 28, 2025 | Heather

What to Eat with Garlic Bread for Dinner is your go-to guide for cozy, satisfying meals that pair perfectly with this beloved side. From hearty pastas to comforting soups and family favorites, these 21 recipe ideas are the perfect match for every warm, buttery slice.

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Why You'll Love These Garlic Bread Pairings

Comforting Meals: These recipes are cozy, hearty, and satisfying. Perfect for soaking up every last bit of garlic butter.
Family Approved: Kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing dishes that make dinner planning easy.
A Variety to Choose From: Options range from hearty pastas to tasty soups and salads, so there's something for everyone.
Easy to Make: Most of the recipes are simple and approachable for busy weeknights.
Great for Entertaining: Garlic bread plus a comforting main dish makes the perfect casual dinner for guests.

Easy Garlic Bread Recipe

First, let's start with the star, the garlic bread. This recipe for Garlic Bread couldn't get any easier. There's only a few steps and it's ready in minutes. By far it's my family's favorite. If you have more time and are planning ahead, you can make these Homemade Garlic Breadsticks or this delicious Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread. Both are easy, just a bit more time consuming.

Garlic bread slices.

FAQs About Garlic Bread

How do you make your own garlic bread?

Garlic bread can be made simply by buttering a loaf of french bread that has been cut in half, adding some minced garlic and parsley, then wrapping it in foil and baking it in a 375°F oven until its soft and warm.

Is garlic powder or garlic salt better for garlic bread?

I prefer dried or fresh minced garlic, but garlic powder would be the next best option. Using garlic salt can make the bread too salty.

What bread is best for garlic bread?

I prefer to use a loaf of French bread or an uncut Italian loaf. Ciabatta and baguettes are good options too. You want a sturdy bread that can be cut into thick pieces without tearing or ripping.

How do you bake garlic bread in the oven?

When using a loaf of bread and not slices, you'll want to wrap the whole loaf in aluminum foil and bake it at 375°F for about 20 minutes.

How to make garlic bread with normal bread?

To make garlic bread with bread slices, simply butter both sides of the bread, add your garlic and parsley and place on sheet pan. Bake in a 425°F oven for 15-20 minutes and flip the bread half way through baking.

What to Eat with Garlic Bread

There are many main entrees that go with garlic bread. My favorites are pasta dishes and soups. However, salads and simple protein dishes will pair well with garlic bread too. Garlic bread can even be used as a vessel in your meal too! Below are 21 Recipe Ideas to serve with garlic bread. I hope you find a few favorites!

Pasta Dishes to Serve with Garlic Bread

Homemade Lasagna Recipe

This Homemade Lasagna Recipe is a family favorite filled with sheets of pasta, a cheesy filling and an easy from scratch meat sauce. This recipe is easy, delicious and a huge crowd pleaser!

Slice of homemade lasagna on white round plate with fork.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

This Chicken Spaghetti Bake is a cozy family meal filled with tender chicken, fresh broccoli and spaghetti in a creamy homemade sauce, topped with cheese and baked to perfection! Perfect for get togethers, potlucks or a make ahead freezer meal.

Chicken spaghetti bake being served out of casserole dish with wooden spatula.

Baked Rigatoni Casserole

This Baked Rigatoni Casserole is hearty, comforting and cheesy! A tasty tomato based meat sauce, rigatoni pasta, and three types of cheese completes this delicious casserole that will soon be your most requested dinner item!

Baked rigatoni casserole on white round plate in front of red casserole dish.

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

This Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce recipe is the easiest way to make a hearty and comforting spaghetti dinner. It's fast, easy and a definite family pleaser!

Top view of Instant pot spaghetti and meat sauce in white round bowl.

Easy Skillet Lasagna Recipe

This Easy Skillet Lasagna Recipe is made all in one pot, and is ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish. It is full of all the delicious classic lasagna flavors, and quick enough for a weeknight dinner.

Close up top view of easy lasagna skillet in deep sided skillet with serving spoon on the left.

Soup Recipes to Eat with Garlic Bread

Italian Minestrone Soup

This Italian Minestrone Soup is a hearty vegetable soup with beans that is done in one pot and ready in less than 30 minutes! A simple dinner recipe that is cozy, comforting and delicious!

Close up top view of Italian minestrone soup in white round bowl.

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Cheesy Broccoli Soup is the ultimate comfort food that is creamy, packed with tender broccoli, and loaded with cheddar cheese. It’s simple and quick enough for busy weeknight dinners, yet so satisfying. But the real surprise? It tastes like it simmered all day… and only you’ll know how easy it really was.

Top view of cheesy broccoli soup in white round bowl garnished with extra shredded cheese and parsley.

Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe

This Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe is a delicious one pot dinner that the entire family is going to love! All the flavors of classic lasagna in a comforting bowl of soup!

Lasagna soup in bowl topped with ricotta sitting in front of dutch oven with garlic bread to the side of bowl.

Easy Clam Chowder

This Easy Clam Chowder Recipe is rich, creamy and incredibly simple to make in no time! Made with canned clams for a quick shortcut, this homemade recipe delivers all the classic flavors of a comforting chowder without the hassle. Perfect for a quick, cozy meal that tastes like it simmered all day!

Top view of easy clam chowder in white bowl topped with oyster crackers sitting in front of dutch oven.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Chicken Wild Rice Soup is creamy, comforting and delicious. A simple and satisfying soup that is going to be a family favorite!

Bowl of chicken wild rice soup next to another bowl of soup with spoons on the side.

Protein Dishes to Pair with Garlic Bread

Crock Pot Italian Beef

This Crock Pot Italian Beef is a super easy recipe to indulge in some flavorful fork tender beef. A delicious crowd pleasing recipe that's perfect for parties and potlucks.

Shredded crock pot Italian beef in white serving bowl surrounded by ciabatta buns.

Italian Sloppy Joes

These Italian Sloppy Joes are a hearty and filling sandwich that is full of Italian flavors and served on Parmesan Garlic Bread. Simple and quick to put together and so delicious you'll want to add this sandwich into your weeknight dinner rotation. Lets be honest... a sandwich is good anytime!

Side view of Italian sloppy joe on white round plate topped with shredded parmesan cheese.

Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

This Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe is an easy and healthy way to enjoy an Italian favorite for dinner. Juicy and tender breaded chicken smothered with tasty marinara and melted mozzarella is going to have your family begging for more!

Baked chicken parmesan on a bed of spaghetti in white round pasta bowl.

Chicken Meatballs Recipe

This Chicken Meatballs Recipe creates the most flavorful baked chicken meatballs that are then simmered in a simple red sauce. Great for appetizers, meatball sandwiches or served over your favorite pasta!

Chicken meatballs in sauce pan in red sauce and topped with melted cheese with serving spoon on the side.

Grandma’s Famous Meatloaf

Grandma's Famous Meatloaf is my Grandma's version of a tried and true Italian meatloaf. A family favorite that is perfect for weeknights or Sunday dinner.

Grandma's Famous Meatloaf Slices next to loaf.

Honey Mustard Chicken

This Honey Mustard Chicken is an easy dinner recipe that makes juicy chicken coated in a sweet and tangy sauce. Super simple supper that is great any day of the week.

Top view of honey mustard chicken breasts all sliced and in white rectangle baker.

Oven Baked Chicken Legs

These easy Oven Baked Chicken Legs turn out tender and juicy with the best crispy skin. Made with simple pantry ingredients this chicken dish is going to be a new family favorite.

Close up of oven baked chicken legs in red baking dish.

Bacon Wrapped Cheesy Broccoli Chicken

This simple Bacon Wrapped Cheesy Broccoli Chicken recipe will become your new go to dinner meal the whole family will love! It's healthy, low-carb, and full of flavor!

Top view of bacon wrapped cheesy broccoli chicken on white oval platter.

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers are healthy, easy and delicious. They are so easy to put together with no cooking of anything before hand. Its a simple prep and let the crock pot do the rest of the work! A great crowd pleasing, family friendly supper.

Crock pot stuffed pepper topped with melted cheese on white round plate.

Salads to Eat with Garlic Bread

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe is simple to make, ready in less than 30 minutes and is great served for lunch, summer dinners or at pot lucks and parties. A fun twist on the classic Caesar salad.

Chicken caesar pasta salad in white serving bowl with bottle of dressing to right side.

Roast Chicken Cobb Salad

Roast Chicken Cobb Salad is filled with everything you would want in a healthy and delicious salad. A bed of lettuce topped with roast chicken, tomatoes, bacon, avocado, hard boiled eggs, and cheese! What else is needed for a fulfilling and healthy dinner?

Front view of Roast Chicken Cobb Salad with all the fixings on white plate.

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